TORONTO: Flight attendant Sumira from Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) managed to get into Canada without a passport.
Sumaira was assigned to duty on flight PK 781 from Islamabad to Toronto when the unprecedented incident occurred.
According to airline sources, the flight attendant traveled from Islamabad to Toronto only on PIA’s General Declaration documents, bypassing the standard passport requirement.
After the breach was discovered, PIA was slapped with a hefty fine for allowing flight attendants to arrive in Canada without proper documentation.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the national carrier confirmed that PIA was fined $250 for the incident, underscoring the seriousness of the breach.
Contrary to speculations doing the rounds in some quarters, PIA vehemently denied reports suggesting that the flight attendant intended to seek political asylum after landing in Canada. The airline emphasized that such claims are unfounded.
It is relevant that more than 10 PIA flight attendants have gone missing in Canada in the last two years, raising concerns about the welfare and safety of the airline’s staff operating on international routes.More details are expected to emerge regarding the fine imposed by PIA and the circumstances surrounding Samira’s trip to Canada, with Chief Reporter Javed Asghar set to provide an in-depth look at the matter.
